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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - June 13, 1994 Page - 3 - <br /> PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) <br /> alternative but to raise these taxes and said the Finance Committee has <br /> done a thorough job of analyzing the budget. <br /> The City Clerk read a letter addressed to Vice Mayor Myers from Mayor <br /> Corbett. Mayor Corbett said she supports the proposed revisions to the <br /> Transient Occupancy and Utility Users Taxes. She commended the Finance <br /> Committee for its work on the budget process. She said the 1994-94 <br /> Budget Strategies approved by the City Council on March 7, 1994 served <br /> as the basis for preparing a balanced budget that continues current <br /> service levels and adds important public safety programs, including two <br /> police officers and a seismic strengthening of residential and <br /> commercial structures program. <br /> Council Member Perry said none of the Council like to raise fees or <br /> taxes. She said, having been a member of Finance Committee in the <br /> past, going through the budget, and getting input from the community, <br /> she feels some of the alternatives, such as cutting police officers, <br /> are not acceptable. She said the Utility Tax is based on usage and <br /> everyone share the pain, not just property owners. She noted this tax <br /> was looked at over a year ago and the Council decided not to trigger <br /> it. She said she supported the tax increase. <br /> Council Member Loeffler asked how much of the $700,000 was based on <br /> Cable TV and how much based on other utilities. Mr. Jermanis said it <br /> was about 50-50; he further noted that property owners, renters and <br /> businesses pay this tax. Council Member Loeffler said he supports the <br /> Cable TV tax because Cable TV is a luxury, but has difficulty with <br /> taxing utilities. He expressed concern with what he perceives to be an <br /> increase in City personnel during lean times and therefore has a <br /> problem supporting tax increases. He said the public is prepared to <br /> accept cutbacks. He said additional police officers are not essential <br /> at this time, given budget constraints. He said he supports the tax on <br /> Cable TV but not on utilities. <br /> Vice Mayor Myers said he served on the Finance Committee for the last <br /> two years. He said last year the Council was criticized for not <br /> fulfilling all the recommendations of the Task Force. He was on the <br /> committee that studied the Utility Tax when it increased from 5 to 6% <br /> on businesses, and there was a lot of discussion at that time. He said <br /> we are all working together for the betterment of San Leandro and he <br /> supports the Utility Tax. <br /> In response to City Council questions, Mr. Jermanis repeated that he <br /> and the City Manager had offered to meet with the Marina Inn and bring <br /> any concerns back to Council . He noted that the reallocation of <br /> Transient Occupancy Taxes to the Marina Fund is intended to bring long- <br /> term financial stability to the Marina area. <br /> Council Member Galvan said he struggled with this matter, but he feels <br /> the other choices are unacceptable. He said police officers are <br /> necessary. He said he supports the Utility Tax increase but agrees <br />